Joseph and Mary had traveled with a large group of friends and relatives from Jerusalem to Nazareth for an entire day before they realized Jesus wasn’t with him. They returned to Jerusalem and looked for two days before finding him in the temple. Jesus did not understand their anxiety and confusion.
Jesus said, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Luke 2.49
When Mary anxiously questions why he didn’t tell them where he was, Jesus expects they should have known what he was doing. He must be about his Father’s affairs. In Luke’s gospel, the word must refers to the role his Father has given Jesus. Later he tells his followers, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God (4.43) and “The Son of Man must suffer…be killed…and on the third day be raised” (9.22).
Who talked to you about faith and purpose in your teen years? With what young people have you talked about how you live and practice your faith?